COLMAR, France — Lance Armstrong stayed in third place after a wet and chilly ride yesterday and lost a crucial ally for the rest of the Tour de France when teammate Levi Leipheimer withdrew because of a broken wrist.

The 13th stage from Vittel to Colmar, won by Germany's Heinrich Haussler, was less secure for riders Julian Dean and Oscar Freire: they were lightly injured by shots from a suspected air rifle from the roadside.

The top standings didn't change in the 124-mile stage through the rolling hills of northeast France that featured three big climbs.

Armstrong, who trails overall leader Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy by eight seconds and Astana teammate Alberto Contador by two, said a crucial showdown awaits in tomorrow's ride into Switzerland.

"That one is almost a guarantee because it's uphill," the seven-time champion said of the ride from Pontarlier, France, to the Swiss ski station of Verbier. "For sure, it's a decisive stage and exciting for the fans."

Leipheimer, who had been fourth overall, 39 seconds behind, fell off his bike and broke his wrist in the last two miles of Thursday's stage.

Pounding rain forced many in the pack to don windbreakers and made conditions unfavorable for potential contenders Cadel Evans of Australia, brothers Andy and Frank Schleck of Luxembourg or 2008 Tour champion Carlos Sastre.

"It was really, really cold," Armstrong, who is riding in his 12th Tour, told The Associated Press. "To be honest, I don't remember a day in the Tour that has been colder than that one."

Some riders were forced to contend with more than just slick conditions on rain-soaked roads. New Zealand's Dean and Freire, a three-time world champion from Spain, were slightly injured near the end of the stage by shots from what police suspect was an air rifle.

Police were investigating. Both cyclists were expected to start today's mostly flat 14th stage, a 124-mile trek through plains from Colmar to Besancon, the teams said.

Yesterday's stage brought the return of rider earpieces. The International Cycling Union buckled under pressure from many teams and lifted a planned ban of them in the 13th stage. That decision meant riders raced with their electronic radio gear, with coaches informing them of possible hazards.

The ban had been in effect for Tuesday's 10th stage, an experiment aimed at forcing riders to manage the course on their own.